DIBRUGARH, Aug 10 - Tea garden workers across the State took part in the Bharat Bachao Andolan (Save India Campaign) on Monday as a mark of protest against the anti-worker policies of the government. The campaign spearheaded by Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) was part of the nationwide protest called by several central trade unions on Sunday.
Tea garden workers assembled in front of the office of their respective tea estates with banners, placards and raised slogans. The demonstration was organised by maintaining the health protocols in every tea garden for half-an-hour before commencement of the day�s work, ACMS general secretary Rupesh Gowalla told The Assam Tribune.
While condemning the anti-worker policies of the government, ACMS demanded notification for a hike in the wages of the workers to Rs 351 and a monthly compensation of Rs 7,500 to all those workers who lost their jobs due to the pandemic crisis.
Among others, ACMS also demanded of the government free health care services, halt to privatisation of public sector units, regularisation of jobs of contractual employees, 10 kilograms of rice and other essentials to jobless people, 200-day guaranteed work a year under NREGA scheme along with Rs 600 wage, withdrawal of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020 and rehabilitation of workers who returned home from other States, etc.
Former Minister Atuwa Munda also took part in the demonstration organised in Duliabam Tea Estate in the district. In his brief speech, he raised the burning issues of the worker community and also created awareness on coronavirus disease among the workers.
